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Law Enforcement Resources

DOJ Partners

COPS Office

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing by the nation's state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources. Community policing begins with a commitment to building trust and mutual respect between police and communities. It is critical to public safety, ensuring that all stakeholders work together to address our nation's crime challenges. When police and communities collaborate, they more effectively address underlying issues, change negative behavioral patterns, and allocate resources. The COPS Office awards grants to hire community policing professionals, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.

Resources

The National Blue Alert Network
The National Blue Alert Network supports the use and integration of Blue Alert plans throughout the United States in order to rapidly disseminate information to law enforcement agencies, the media and the public to aid in the apprehension of violent criminals who kill, seriously injure, or pose an imminent threat to law enforcement.

Officer Safety and Wellness Group Meeting Summary: Improving Law Enforcement Resilience - Lessons and Recommendations
Since 2011, the COPS Office and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) have raised awareness, increased knowledge, and promoted practices that support the safety and well-being of law enforcement officers through the Officer Safety and Wellness (OSW) Group. In October 2016, the OSW Group brought law enforcement practitioners and subject matter experts together to discuss promising practices for supporting officer resilience. Resilience - the ability not only to recover emotionally from traumatic events but to withstand day-to-day work-related stress - is critical to the physical and psychological health of all law enforcement officers.

The Signs Within: Suicide Prevention Education and Awareness
Law enforcement officers respond to danger and witness tragedy on a routine basis, which can make them vulnerable to a high level of emotional distress, even suicide. But though there is no clear data on the number of officer suicides that occur each year, it is a growing concern within the law enforcement community, which is increasingly interested in addressing it through mental health programs. This document describes a variety of suicide prevention and awareness training programs, refutes some common myths, and provides concepts, resources, and promising practices for law enforcement executives. It also discusses strategies such as peer counseling, mentoring, employee assistance programs, and the use of staff psychologists. In addition, readers will find a checklist, which managerial staff can use to identify signs of stress. Officer suicide is a preventable tragedy, one which can be addressed through training, awareness, and mental health resources.

Cross Deputization in Indian Country
Jurisdiction in Indian country has long been complicated by multifaceted tribal, state, and federal laws, policies, and court decisions, making it difficult for law enforcement to effectively address many types of criminal offenses. Whether the victim and perpetrator belonged to a tribe, where the crime took place, and other circumstances must be considered before any action can be taken. But recent changes in tribal, federal, and state law have enabled tribal law enforcement to enforce a broader array of state and federal crimes by cross-commissioning and cross-deputizing their officers. This report - based on the work of the National Sheriffs' Association, which assembled a cross-deputization advisory panel - examines the jurisdictional and legal limits of cross-deputization and how it has been implemented in various law enforcement agencies in Indian country. It also describes some of the most promising practices and provides sample documents and agreements.

Office on Violence Against Women

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) funds police departments, sheriffs' offices, and other law enforcement professionals to respond to the crimes of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. OVW technical assistance providers also offer trainings, toolkits, and other resources to assist law enforcement. OVW encourages all members of the law enforcement community to take advantage of OVW's resources, apply for grants, attend trainings, and contact them with any questions. Visit www.justice.gov/ovw or follow them on Twitter @OVWJustice.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police

The Crimes of Domestic Violence Training Video and Facilitation Guide
The International Association of Chiefs of Police created a domestic violence training video "The Crime of Domestic Violence" was developed to present law enforcement and partners with information to strengthen the response to victims of domestic violence. This project was supported by funding from the Office on Violence Against Women Training and Technical Assistance Initiative.

The crime of domestic violence is complex and law enforcement officers often feel frustrated and discouraged when responding. Officers provide as much support to victims as possible, but when equipped with a better understanding of the nuances and dynamics of this intimate partner crime, they can more effectively address victims' needs and hold offenders accountable. This video highlights the realities and complexities of domestic violence and provides strategies for effective investigations.

The Alliance of Hope has compiled resources for law enforcement into a Dropbox. Many of the items are not OVW funded. This compilation of materials include resources from other national law enforcement organizations and local jurisdictions.Alliance of Hope Dropbox of Materials for Law Enforcement

The National Immigrant Women's Advocacy Project at American University

Through an OVW TA project, the National Immigrant Women's Advocacy Project (NIWAP) at American University hosts monthly law enforcement and prosecutor virtual roundtables. In these monthly conference calls, which are limited to law enforcement and prosecutors, NIWAP's law enforcement trainers will discuss best practices and address questions on U visa certification and language access and how each plays a crucial role in improving victim, officer, and community safety. Please visit the link to learn more about and sign up for the virtual roundtables, as well as access materials from past roundtables and other law enforcement focused materials.Law Enforcement & Prosecution Monthly U Visa Roundtable